Image editing of documents with image and non-image pages

ABSTRACT

According to this invention, bookbinding data containing pages created by respective applications can be constructed regardless of the type of application. Even when one or more desired pages contained in bookbinding data are selected, image editing is designated, but a non-image page exists in the selected pages, the non-image page can be excluded from editing targets, and the process can shift to image editing. For this purpose, when a plurality of pages are selected and image editing is designated, whether each selected page is an editable image page is determined. An editable page is temporarily stored. After all the selected pages are determined, an image editing application is activated to edit stored editable image pages.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a technique of combining output datagenerated by various application programs such as a document editingapplication and image editing application into one electronic document.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As the performance of general-purpose information processing apparatusessuch as a personal computer improves, texts, tables, images, and thelike can be easily created/edited by various application programs.

In general, texts, simple tables, and the like are created by a documentediting application program, images are created by an image editingapplication program, and tables with relatively complicated operationsare created by a spreadsheet application program. In this manner, theuser selectively uses an application in accordance with the purpose.

A document for one purpose is formed from only one type of data such asonly text, only a table with numerical operations, or only an image, buta situation in which a document containing different types of data iscreated is increasing.

To prepare a document formed from a plurality of data types, each partof the document is created, edited, and printed by a correspondingapplication. Then, respective parts are rearranged in intended order andcombined.

However, to assign page numbers to pages when the user creates onetarget document by combining printed materials generated by variousapplications, the user must print out all necessary data, combine theminto a paper document as a printed result, and then determine pagenumbers to be assigned. Each application writes determined page numberson respective pages (to be referred to as logical pages or documentpages) of a document created by the application. Even if the applicationprogram has a function of assigning page numbers, the page numbers ofdiscontinuous pages must be designated by the user. If the pages of thetarget document are rearranged, page numbers must be reassigned inaccordance with the rearrangement. These pages must also be edited andprinted again by a corresponding application when not data contents butmerely the format is changed so that a plurality of document pages arecombined into one page (to be referred to as a physical page or printpage) as a print material, or single-sided printing is changed todouble-sided printing.

Since an application changes depending on the type of data, the usermust manually provide an interface between applications. This means thatmuch labor is demanded of the user, decreasing productivity. Creation ofa single purpose document by sharing respective parts between aplurality of individuals using application programs on their respectivePCs is especially confusing, and readily causes errors owing tooperations by many users.

To solve the above problems, the assignee of the present applicant hasproposed the following technique in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.2003-91518.

First, as for application programs (e.g., a wordprocessing applicationand spreadsheet application) or data files created by unknownapplication programs, a common electronic document file is created usinga predetermined device driver as a printer driver on respectiveapplications. Application data files can be converted into an electronicdocument file of a common format regardless of the type and manufacturerof an application, and pages in the electronic document file can beextracted.

Second, as for versatile image files (e.g., a bitmap file, JPEG file,and Tiff file) whose formats are laid open to the public, images aredirectly extracted as pages from image files.

One bookbinding data file is created from pages obtained by the firstand second processes as pages which form electronic bookbinding data.

In this arrangement, pages which form bookbinding data can be created byany application as far as the application has a printout function, andbookbinding data containing page data created by respective applicationscan be generated.

To meet the demand for electronic submission, there has recently beenproposed a mechanism in which image data scanned by a scanner isprocessed by importing the image data into a bookbinding application formaking ready for a print document. If an original paper document has themark of a staple or punch hole, the shadow of the mark appears in animage page scanned by a scanner, and the user attempts to erase suchunnecessary data from a plurality of image pages with an image editorfunction.

Attention is paid to bookbinding data in the prior art. Pages containedin bookbinding data include image pages and non-image pages (pagescreated by a wordprocessing application or the like). An image page hasa general-purpose format and requires a simple editing process such aserase of a post-process mark, but whether a page is an image is unknownunless the page is opened.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a technique capableof constructing bookbinding data containing pages created by respectiveapplications regardless of the type of application, and when one or moredesired pages contained in bookbinding data are selected, image editingis designated, but a non-image page exists in the selected pages,excluding the non-image page from the editing targets, shifting theprocess to image editing, and providing an efficient operationenvironment to the user.

To achieve the above object, a document processing apparatus accordingto the present invention comprises the following arrangement. That is, adocument processing apparatus which stores and manages, as an electronicdocument file, document data containing both an image page and anon-image page comprises

electronic document file creation means for creating an electronicdocument file from an imported image file of a predetermined format andan imported application data file,

display control means for displaying on a display a list of pagescontained in the electronic document file created by the electronicdocument file creation means,

editing means for editing the image page in the electronic documentfile,

determination means for determining for each page which forms a group ofselected pages whether a page is an image page or a non-image page whennot less than one desired page group is selected as an editing target ofthe editing means from the pages displayed by the display control means,and

control means for performing image editing for a group of pagesdetermined by the determination means to be image pages as an editingtarget of the editing means.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate thesame or similar parts throughout the figures thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and,together with the description, serve to explain the principles of theinvention.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the softwareconfiguration of a stand-alone document processing system according toan embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a hardware configurationwhich implements the document processing system according to theembodiment;

FIG. 3 is a view showing an example of a book file structure;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are tables showing a list of book attributes;

FIG. 5 is a table showing a list of chapter attributes;

FIG. 6 is a table showing a list of page attributes;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of a sequence of opening a bookfile;

FIG. 8 is a view showing an example of a user interface window when anew book file is opened;

FIG. 9 is a view showing an example of a user interface window when anexisting book file is opened;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a sequence of importing anelectronic document file to a book file;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an example of a sequence of convertingapplication data into an electronic document file in step S801 of FIG.10;

FIG. 12 is a view showing an example of a data structure used forprinting and display;

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing an example of the softwareconfiguration of a client-server document processing system;

FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing an example of the softwareconfiguration of the document processing system in image editing;

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the flow of a series of operations inimage editing;

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing the flow of a series of operations inimage editing when a plurality of images can be simultaneously edited;

FIG. 17 is a view showing an example of page selection with the UI of abookbinding application;

FIG. 18 is a view showing an example of UI display by an image editingapplication;

FIG. 19 is a view showing an example of page selection with the UI ofthe bookbinding application when a chapter is selected;

FIG. 20 is a view showing an example of page selection with the UI ofthe bookbinding application when a book is selected;

FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing a sequence of opening a book file by abookbinding application according to the second embodiment;

FIG. 22 is a view showing the UI window of the bookbinding applicationin which a mark is added to a page determined to be an editable imagepage according to the second embodiment; and

FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing the flow of a series of operations inimage editing according to the second embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described indetail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Outline of Document Processing System According to First Embodiment

The outline of a document processing system according to the firstembodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 13.

In the document processing system, a data file created by a generalapplication is converted into an electronic document file by anelectronic document writer to be described in the first embodiment. Abookbinding application according to the first embodiment provides afunction of editing the electronic document file. In the firstembodiment, a general application, electronic document writer,bookbinding application, and electronic document de-spooler areseparately described for distinction between these functions. However, apackage provided to the user is not limited to them, and an applicationor graphic engine as a combination of them may be provided, details ofwhich will be described below.

<Example of Software Configuration of Document Processing SystemAccording to First Embodiment>

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the software configuration of thedocument processing system according to the first embodiment.

The main part of the document processing system according to the firstembodiment is implemented by a general-purpose information processingapparatus 100 such as a personal computer (to be also referred to as aPC or host computer hereafter). The type and manufacturer of a generalapplication 101 do not matter as far as the application program providesany one function of wordprocessing, spreadsheet, photo-retouch, draw,paint, presentation, and text editing. In other words, any applicationcan be adopted as far as it has a print instruction function to the OS.

Generally, when document data, image data, or the like created by anapplication is printed by the application, a predetermined interface(generally called GDI) provided by an OS (Operating System) is utilized.To print created data, the application 101 transmits an output command(called a GDI function) which is determined in advance for the outputmodule of the OS providing the interface and has an OS-dependent format.A device driver receives the output command, converts the command into aformat processible by an output device such as a printer, and outputsthe converted command (called a DDI function). Since data converted bythe device driver changes depending on the type of output device, themanufacturer, the model, or the like, a device driver is provided foreach output device. The OS converts a command by using the device driverto generate print data, and combines the print data by JL (Job Language)to generate a print job. When the OS is Microsoft Windows®, the outputmodule is a GDI (Graphical Device Interface) module.

An electronic document writer 102 according to the first embodiment isan improvement of the above-mentioned device drivers, and is a softwaremodule provided to implement the document processing system. Theelectronic document writer 102 does not target a specific output device,and converts an output command into a format processible by abookbinding application 104 or printer driver 106 (to be describedlater). The format (to be referred to as an “electronic document format”hereinafter) converted by the electronic document writer 102 is notparticularly limited as far as each document page can be expressed by adetailed format. Practical standard formats are, for example, the PDFformat by Adobe Systems Incorporated, and the SVG format.

When the application 101 utilizes the electronic document writer 102,the electronic document writer 102 is designated (selected) as a devicedriver used for output, and then caused to execute printing. Theelectronic document writer 102 and a general printer driver do not makeany difference to the application 101. The electronic document writer102 saves a result processed in the above-described manner as a file 103in a proper folder (directory).

An electronic document file created by the electronic document writer102 does not have a complete electronic document file format to bedescribed in the first embodiment. For this reason, the electronicdocument writer 102 is designated as a device driver by the bookbindingapplication 104, and executes conversion of application data into anelectronic document file under the management of the bookbindingapplication 104 (details of which will be described later). Thebookbinding application 104 completes a new incomplete electronicdocument file generated by the electronic document writer 102 as anelectronic document file having the following format. In case ofnecessity to definitely discriminate these files, a file created by theelectronic document writer 102 will be called an electronic documentfile, and an electronic document file given a structure by thebookbinding application will be called a book file. If these files neednot be particularly discriminated, a document file generated by anapplication, an electronic document file, and a book file are calleddocument files (or document data).

As described above, the electronic document writer 102 is designated asa device driver, and the general application 101 prints the data.Application data is converted into an electronic document format inpages (to be referred to as “logical pages” or “document pages”hereinafter) defined by the application 101. The converted data isstored as the electronic document file 103 in a storage medium such as ahard disk.

It should be noted that the electronic document writer according to thefirst embodiment does not make any difference from a printer driverprepared by a general printer manufacturer to the application, asdescribed above. More specifically, a data file of a format processibleby the bookbinding application to be described in the first embodimentcan be obtained via the electronic document writer 102 according to thefirst embodiment as far as the application has a printout functionregardless of an existing application program or an unknown applicationwhich will come into the market in the future.

The bookbinding application 104 according to the first embodimentprovides the user with a function of reading and editing the electronicdocument file or book file 103. The editing function of the bookbindingapplication 104 according to the first embodiment is not a detailedfunction of, e.g., editing a text, unlike a wordprocessor, but a simpleimage editing function and a function of editing a chapter or bookstructure (to be described later) made up of pages as a minimum unit.Detailed editing such as a change of a font in a text or insertion of acharacter can be performed again by an original accustomed application.

To print the book file 103 edited by the bookbinding application 104,the bookbinding application 104 activates an electronic documentde-spooler 105. The electronic document de-spooler 105 is a programmodule which is installed in the computer together with the bookbindingapplication. The electronic document de-spooler 105 is used to outputdrawing data to a printer driver in printing a document (book file) usedby the bookbinding application. The electronic document de-spooler 105reads out a designated book file from the hard disk. To print each pagein a format described in the book file, the electronic documentde-spooler 105 generates an output command complying with the outputmodule of the OS described above, and outputs the command to the outputmodule (not shown). At this time, the driver 106 of a printer 107 usedas an output device is designated as a device driver. The output moduleconverts the output command received using the designated printer driver106 of the printer 107 into a device command interpretable by theprinter 107. The device command is transmitted to the printer 107, whichprints an image corresponding to the command.

<Example of Hardware Configuration of Document Processing SystemAccording to First Embodiment>

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of thedocument processing system according to the first embodiment.

In FIG. 2, the PC 100 comprises a CPU 201 which controls elementsconnected to a system bus 204 and controls the overall apparatus. TheCPU 201 executes a document processing program and various applicationsfor figures, images, characters, and tables (including spreadsheets andthe like). A ROM 203 stores a BIOS, boot program, basic font data, andvarious data. An external memory 211 (hard disk device or the like)stores an OS, various programs (general application program 101,electronic document writer 102, bookbinding application 104, electronicdocument de-spooler 105, and printer driver 106 shown in FIG. 1) to bedescribed in the first embodiment, font data, and data files created byvarious applications. A RAM 202 functions as a main memory, work area,or the like for the CPU 201. When the apparatus is powered on, the CPU201 loads an OS from the external memory 211 to the RAM 202 inaccordance with a boot program in the ROM 203, then loads variousapplications and programs to be described in the first embodiment, andfunctions as an information processing apparatus.

A keyboard controller (KBC) 205 controls a key input from a keyboard 209or a pointing device (not shown). A CRT controller (CRTC) 206 controlsthe display of a CRT display (CRT) 210. A disk controller (DKC) 207controls access to the external memory 211 which stores a boot program,various applications, font data, user files, edited files, a printercontrol command generation program (to be referred to as a printerdriver hereinafter), and the like. A printer controller (PRTC) 208 isconnected to the printer 107 via a bidirectional interface (interface)21, and executes a communication control process with the printer 107.An NC (Network Controller) 212 communicates with a network, and executesa communication control process with another device connected to thenetwork.

The CPU 201 executes, e.g., an outline font rasterization process to adisplay information RAM set in the RAM 202, and enables WYSIWYG on theCRT 210. The CPU 201 opens various registered windows and executesvarious data processes on the basis of commands designated on the CRT210 with a mouse® cursor (not shown) or the like. When the user executesprinting, he/she opens a print setting window, and can perform settingof a printer and setting of a printing process method to the printerdriver that includes selection of a print mode.

The printer 107 comprises a CPU 312 which controls the entire printer.The CPU 312 outputs an image signal as output information to a printingunit (printer engine) 317 connected to a system bus 315 on the basis ofa control program stored in a program ROM within a ROM 313 or a controlprogram stored in an external memory 314. The program ROM within the ROM313 stores, e.g., the control program of the CPU 312. A font ROM withinthe ROM 313 stores, e.g., font data used to generate the outputinformation. A data ROM within the ROM 313 stores, e.g., informationused in the host computer for a printer having no external memory 314such as a hard disk.

The CPU 312 can communicate with the host computer via an input unit318, and notify the host computer 100 of internal printer information orthe like. A RAM 319 functions as a main memory, work area, or the likefor the CPU 312, and the memory capacity can be expanded by an optionalRAM connected to an expansion port (not shown). The RAM 319 is used asan output information mapping area, environment data storage area,NVRAM, or the like. Access to the external memory 314 such as a harddisk (HD) or IC card is controlled by a memory controller (MC) 320. Theexternal memory 314 is connected as an option, and stores font data,emulation programs, form data, and the like. Reference numeral 321denotes an operation panel described above which is equipped withoperation switches, an LED display, and the like.

The number of external memories 314 is not limited to one, and aplurality of external memories 314 may be arranged. A plurality ofexternal memories which store an option card and a program forinterpreting the printer control languages of different language systemsin addition to built-in fonts may be connected. Further, an NVRAM (notshown) may be adopted to store printer mode setting information from theoperation unit 321.

<Example of Format of Electronic Document Data>

Before referring to details of the bookbinding application 104, the dataformat of a book file will be explained. The book file has athree-layered structure similar to a paper-medium book. The upper layeris called a “book”, resembles one book, and defines the attributes ofthe entire book. The intermediate layer corresponds to a chapter in thebook, and is also called a “chapter”. As for each chapter, itsattributes can be defined. The lower layer is a “page”, and correspondsto each page defined by an application program. As for each page, itsattributes can be defined. One book may contain a plurality of chapters,and one chapter may contain a plurality of pages.

FIG. 3 is a view schematically showing an example of the book fileformat. A book, chapter, and page in the book file of this example arerepresented by corresponding nodes. One book file contains one book. Thebook and chapter are a concept for defining a book structure, andcontain, as entities, defined attribute values and links to lowerlayers. The page has, as entities, data of each page output from anapplication program. The page contains a document page entity (documentpage data) and a link to each document page data in addition to anattribute value. Note that a print page to be output to a paper mediummay contain a plurality of document pages. This structure is displayednot by a link, but by attributes in book, chapter, and page layers.

The book file shown in FIG. 3 need not be one completed book, but can berepetitively edited. Thus, “book” is generalized as a “document” in FIG.3.

Document information 401 is defined at the top. The document information401 can be roughly divided into three parts 402 to 404. The documentcontrol information 402 holds information such as the path name in thefile system of a document file. The document setting information 403holds layout information such as the page layout, and function settinginformation of a printing apparatus such as stapling, and corresponds tobook attributes. The chapter information list 404 holds as a list a setof chapters which form a document. The list holds chapter information405.

The chapter information 405 can also be roughly divided into three parts406 to 408. The chapter control information 406 holds information suchas the chapter name. The chapter setting information 407 holdsinformation on the page layout and stapling unique to the chapter, andcorresponds to chapter attributes. By holding setting information foreach chapter, a document having a complicated layout can be created sothat the first chapter has a 2UP layout and the remaining chapters havea 4UP layout. The page information list 408 holds as a list a set ofdocument pages which form each chapter. The page information list 408designates page information data 409. Note that “2UP” means a layout oftwo pages created by a general application on one page created by thebookbinding application 104 according to the first embodiment. “4UP”means a state in which 4-page data created by a general application arelaid out in 2×2 on one page created by the bookbinding application.“Nup” means a state in which N logical pages are laid out on one printsheet.

In FIG. 3, one logical page subjected to printing via the electronicdocument writer 102 by the application program corresponds to one pageby the bookbinding application 104. For example, for 4UP, a page datalink 412 stores link information of four logical pages.

The page information data 409 is also roughly divided into three parts410 to 412. The page control information 410 holds information such as apage number displayed at the tree. The page setting information 411holds information such as the page rotation angle and page layoutposition information, and corresponds to document page attributes. Thepage link information 412 is document data corresponding to a page. Inthis example, the page information 409 does not directly have documentdata, but has only the link information 412. Actual document data isheld by a page data list 413.

FIGS. 4A and 4B show an item list of settable book attributes (documentsetting information 403). In general, as for an item which can bedefined repetitively on lower and upper layers, the attribute value ofthe lower layer is preferentially adopted. In other words, setting itemson the upper layer are reflected in items whose attributes are notparticularly set on the lower layer. As for an item which is seteffective only for a book attribute, a value defined in the bookattribute is effective throughout the book. In this example, when anattribute item has different settings on lower and upper layers, whichof the settings is given priority can be selected (to be describedlater). Each item shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B does not correspond to oneconcrete item, but may contain a plurality of relevant items.

Items unique to the book attribute are six items: printing method,details of bookbinding, front/back cover, index paper, inserting paper,and chapter segmentation. These items are defined throughout the book.As the printing method attribute, three values, i.e., single-sidedprinting, double-sided printing, and bookbinding printing can bedesignated. Bookbinding printing is a method of printing in a formatwhich allows bookbinding by bundling a separately designated number ofpaper sheets, folding the bundle into two, and binding the bundle. Asthe detailed bookbinding attribute, the opening direction and the numberof paper sheets to be bundled can be designated when bookbindingprinting is designated.

The front/back cover attribute includes designation of adding papersheets serving as front and back covers when an electronic document filecombined as a book is printed, and designation of contents to be printedon the added paper sheets. The index paper attribute includesdesignation of inserting tabbed index paper separately prepared in aprinting apparatus for chapter segmentation, and designation of contentsto be printed on the index (tabbed) portion. This attribute becomeseffective when a printing apparatus for use is equipped with an inserterhaving an inserting function of inserting a paper sheet preparedseparately from a print sheet into a desired position, or when aplurality of sheet cassettes can be used. This also applies to theinserting paper attribute.

The inserting paper attribute includes designation of inserting a papersheet fed from an inserter or sheet feed cassette for chaptersegmentation, and designation of a sheet feed source when insertingpaper is inserted.

The chapter segmentation attribute includes designation of whether touse a new paper sheet, use a new print page, or do nothing particular ata chapter break. In single-sided printing, the use of a new paper sheetand the use of a new print page are the same. In double-sided printing,successive chapters are not printed on one paper sheet if “the use of anew paper sheet” is designated, but may be printed on the obverse andreverse of one paper sheet if “the use of a new print page” isdesignated.

FIG. 5 shows a list which can be set by the chapter attribute (chaptersetting information 407), and FIG. 6 shows a list which can be set bythe page attribute (page setting information 411). The relationshipbetween the chapter attribute and the page attribute is the same as thatbetween the book attribute and the lower layer attribute.

As for the chapter attribute, there is no item unique to the chapter,and all items overlap those of the book attribute. In general, if thedefinition of the chapter attribute is different from that of the bookattribute, a value defined by the chapter attribute precedes. In thisexample, however, whether to preferentially adopt the attribute value ofa lower layer can be selected (to be described later).

Items common to only the book and chapter attributes are five items:paper size, paper orientation, Nup printing designation,enlargement/reduction, and delivery method. As described above, the Nupprinting designation attribute is an item for designating the number ofdocument pages contained in one print page. Layouts which can bedesignated are 1×1, 1×2, 2×2, 3×3, 4×4, and the like. The deliverymethod attribute is an item for designating whether to staple dischargedpaper sheets. The effectiveness of this attribute depends on whether aprinting apparatus for use has a stapling function.

Items unique to the page attribute are a page rotation attribute, zoom,layout designation, annotation, and page separation. The page rotationattribute is an item for designating the rotation angle when a documentpage is laid out on a print page. The zoom attribute is an item fordesignating the variable magnification ratio of a document page. Thevariable magnification ratio is designated based on a virtual logicalpage region size=100%. The virtual logical page region is a regionoccupied by one document page when document pages are laid out inaccordance with Nup designation or the like. For example, the virtuallogical page region is a region corresponding to one print page for 1×1,and a region obtained by reducing each side of one print page to about70% for 1×2.

Attributes common to the book, chapter, and page are a watermarkattribute and header/footer attribute. The watermark is a separatelydesignated image or character string printed over data created by anapplication. The header/footer is a watermark printed at the upper orlower margin of each page. For the header/footer, items such as a pagenumber, and date and time which can be designated by variables areprepared. Contents which can be designated by the watermark attributeand header/footer attribute are common between the chapter and the page,but are different from those of the book. The book can set the watermarkand header/footer contents, and designate how to print a watermark orheader/footer throughout the book. To the contrary, the chapter and pagecan only designate whether to print a watermark or header/footer set bythe book on the chapter or page.

The configuration as a premise for the first embodiment, and the bookfile structure created by the bookbinding application have beendescribed. The bookbinding application according to the first embodimentwill be explained in more detail.

<Example of Operation Sequence of Document Processing System Accordingto First Embodiment>

A sequence of creating a book file by the bookbinding application 104and electronic document writer 102 will be explained. Creation of a bookfile is realized as part of book file editing operation by thebookbinding application 104.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a sequence when the bookbindingapplication 104 opens a book file.

Whether a book file to be opened is one to be newly created or anexisting one is determined (step S701). If the book file is one to benewly created, a book file containing no chapter is newly created (stepS702). In the example shown in FIG. 3, the newly created book file hasonly a book node 301 which does not have any link to a chapter node. Thebook attribute is set by the user according to need, but defaultsettings are applied to a new document. A UI (User Interface) window forediting the new book file is displayed (step S704). FIG. 8 shows anexample of a UI window when a book file is newly created. In this case,the book file does not have any substantial content, and a UI window 800does not display anything.

If the book file is an existing one, the user designates the book file.Upon designation, the book file is opened (step S703), and a UI (UserInterface) window is displayed in accordance with the structure,attributes, and contents of the book file. FIG. 9 shows an example ofthe UI window. A UI window 900 has a tree portion 901 representing abook structure, and a preview portion 902 displaying a state to beprinted. The tree portion 901 displays chapters contained in the bookand pages contained in each chapter so as to present a tree structure asshown in FIG. 3. Pages displayed at the tree portion 901 are documentpages. The preview portion 902 displays reduced print page contents. Thedisplay order reflects the book structure.

Application data converted into an electronic document file by theelectronic document writer 102 can be added as a new chapter to the openbook file (also including a newly created book file). This function iscalled an electronic document import function. The electronic documentis imported to the book file newly created by the sequence of FIG. 7,giving an entity to the book file. This function is activated byselecting “import” from a menu prepared in the window of FIG. 8 or 9, ordragging and dropping application data into the window of FIG. 8 or 9.

The type of file to be dragged and dropped does not matter as far as thefile is a data file created by a general application program. Theapplication which creates the data file is assumed to be installed inthe PC 100. When the structure (format) of a file to be dragged anddropped is laid open to the public, for example, the file is ageneral-purpose data file with an extension “jpg”, “bmp”, “tiff”, “pdf”,or the like, the file can be interpreted by the bookbinding application104 of the first embodiment, and the application which creates the fileis not always necessary. The general-purpose file is limited to a filehaving a data structure supported by the bookbinding application 104.For a data file having another structure, an application which createsand edits the data file must be installed.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a sequence of importing anelectronic document file and image file.

The electronic document writer 102 converts an application data fileinput from the application 101 into electronic document data (stepS801). After conversion, the bookbinding application 104 adds theelectronic document file 103 generated in step S801 as a new chapter tothe book of a currently open book file (step S803). As for chapterattributes which are common to book attributes, the values of the bookattributes are generally copied. As for uncommon chapter attributes,predetermined default values are set. In this example, whether topreferentially adopt the attribute value of a lower layer can beselected (to be described later).

If a book file is newly created, a new chapter is created, and each pageof the electronic document file is added as a page belonging to thechapter. As for page attributes, attributes common to the attributes ofan upper layer are generally given the attribute values of the upperlayer, and attributes which are defined in application data andinherited to an electronic document file are given values defined in theapplication data. For example, when Nup designation is defined inapplication data, the page inherits this attribute value. In this way, anew book file is created, or a new chapter is added. In this example,however, whether to preferentially adopt the attribute value of a lowerlayer can be selected (to be described later).

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a sequence of generating an electronicdocument file by the electronic document writer 102 and bookbindingapplication 104 in step S801 of FIG. 10. This process is executed when adocument file or image file is dragged and dropped to the shortcut (notshown) of the bookbinding application 104 or the window of thebookbinding application 104 that is displayed on the display while thebookbinding application 104 is activated.

The bookbinding application 104 creates and opens a new electronicdocument file (step S901). The bookbinding application 104 determineswhether the data file to be converted is an image data file (step S905).This determination can be done on the basis of the file extension of thedata file under the Windows OS. For example, the extension “bmp”represents Windows bitmap data; “jpg”, JPEG-compressed image data;“tiff”, tiff image data. Also, the head of data to be converted can beanalyzed. Data of these formats can be directly imported into thebookbinding application 104.

If the data file is determined not to be image data, the bookbindingapplication 104 activates via the OS an application corresponding to theextension of the data file, sets the electronic document writer 102 as adevice driver for the application, and transmits an output command to anOS output module. The output module converts the received output commandinto data of an electronic document format by the electronic documentwriter 102, and outputs the converted data (step S902). The outputdestination is the electronic document file newly opened in step S901 bythe bookbinding application 104.

If the data file is determined to be an image data file, the processadvances to step S905, and the electronic document writer 102 directlygenerates electronic document data from the image data and outputs theelectronic document data to the electronic document file opened in stepS901. Note that the electronic document writer 102 supports image dataof a general-purpose format described above, and can directly generatean electronic document file. For example, a PDF writer available fromAdobe Systems also has the same function of generating a PDF file froman image format.

The bookbinding application 104 determines whether all designated datahave been converted (step S903), and if YES in step S903, closes theelectronic document file (step S904). The electronic document filegenerated by the sequence shown in FIG. 11 is configured as a filecontaining original page data entities shown in FIG. 3.

In this manner, a new book file is created. When a data file is newlydropped while the bookbinding application 104 opens an existingelectronic document file, the new data file is added as a new chapter ifthe data file is application data, or as a new page to the final chapterif the data file is image data. In this example, whether topreferentially adopt the attribute value of a lower layer can beselected (to be described later).

For example, when a data file for a wordprocessing application isconverted into an electronic document file, one chapter containing aplurality of pages is created in the electronic document file. When anunnecessary page exists in the created chapter, the bookbindingapplication issues an instruction to delete the page, leaving onlynecessary pages.

By repeating the above process for necessary application data files, achapter is created for each imported file, and a page is created belowthe chapter. From this, it is understood that a book containing pagescreated by different applications can be created.

<Example of Editing Book File>

As described above, a book file can be created from application data.Chapters and pages in the generated book file can be edited as follows.

-   (1) New document-   (2) Delete-   (3) Copy-   (4) Cut-   (5) Paste-   (6) Move-   (7) Change chapter name-   (8) Reassign page number/name-   (9) Insert cover-   (10) Insert inserting paper-   (11) Insert index paper-   (12) Page layout of each document page-   (13) Editing of image page

In addition, an operation of canceling executed editing operation, andan operation of restoring canceled operation can be performed. Theseediting functions enable editing operations such as consolidation of aplurality of book files, rearrangement of chapters and pages within abook file, delete of chapters and pages within a book file, layoutchange (to 2UP or the like) of a document page, and insertion ofinserting paper and index paper. By these operations, operation resultsare reflected in attributes shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 or in the structuresof the book file. For example, a blank page is inserted to a designatedportion by an operation of newly adding a blank page. The blank page isprocessed as a document page. If the layout of a document page ischanged, the change contents are reflected in attributes such as theprinting method, N-up printing, front/back cover, index paper, insertingpaper, and chapter segmentation. Also, a page in a given chapter can bemoved to another chapter (page is dragged and dropped to anotherchapter).

A display and operation example in editing will be described in detailbelow.

<Example of Output of Book File>

The ultimate goal of a book file created and edited in the above manneris to print out the file. If the user selects a file menu from the UIwindow 900 of the bookbinding application shown in FIG. 9 and selectsprinting from this menu, the book file is then printed out by adesignated output device. At this time, the bookbinding application 104creates a job ticket from a currently open book file, and transfers thejob ticket to the electronic document de-spooler 105. The electronicdocument de-spooler 105 converts the job ticket into an OS outputcommand, e.g., a Windows GDI command, and transmits the command to anoutput module, e.g., GDI. The output module generates a commandcomplying with a device by the designated printer driver 106, andtransmits the command to the device.

The graphic engine of the output module (not shown) loads the printerdriver 106 prepared for each printing apparatus from the external memory211 to the RAM 202, and sets the output to the printer driver 106. Theoutput module converts the received GDI (Graphic Device Interface)function into a DDI (Device Driver Interface) function, and outputs theDDI function to the printer driver 106. The printer driver 106 convertsthe received output into a control command such as a PDL (PageDescription Language) command recognizable by the printer on the basisof the DDI function received from the output module. The convertedprinter control command passes through a system spooler loaded by the OSto the RAM 202, and is output as print data to the printer 107 via theinterface 21.

The job ticket is data having a structure whose minimum unit is adocument page. The structure of the job ticket defines the layout of adocument page on a paper sheet. One job ticket is issued for one printjob. The document node is set at the top of the structure, and definesthe attribute of the whole document such as double-sidedprinting/single-sided printing. This node is accompanied with a papernode containing attributes such as the identifier of paper for use anddesignation of a feed port in the printer. Each paper node isaccompanied with a sheet node which is printed on the paper. One sheetcorresponds to one paper sheet. A print page (physical page) belongs toeach sheet. One physical page belongs to one sheet in single-sidedprinting, and two physical pages belong to one sheet in double-sidedprinting. A document page to be laid out on a physical page belongs tothe physical page. The physical page attribute contains a document pagelayout.

FIG. 12 shows an example of the data structure of a job ticket. In printdata, a document is formed from a set of sheets, and each sheet isformed from two, upper and lower surfaces. Each surface has a region(physical page) for laying out a document, and each physical page isformed from a set of document pages serving as minimum units. Referencenumeral 1101 denotes data corresponding to a document. The data 1101 ismade up of data on a whole document and a list of sheet informationforming the document. Sheet information 1102 is formed from informationon a sheet such as the sheet size, and a list of surface informationlaid out on the sheet. Surface information 1103 is formed from dataunique to a surface, and a list of physical pages laid out on thesurface. Physical page information 1104 is formed from information suchas the size and header/footer of a physical page, and a list of documentpages which form the physical page.

The electronic document de-spooler 105 converts the job ticket into anoutput command to an output module.

<Example of Preview Display Contents>

As described above, when a book file is opened by the bookbindingapplication, the user interface window 900 shown in FIG. 9 is displayed.The tree portion 901 displays a tree representing the structure of theopen book (to be referred to as a “book of interest” hereinafter). Atthe preview portion according to the first embodiment, three displaymethods are prepared in accordance with designation by the user. Thefirst method is a mode called a document view which directly displaysdocument pages. In the document view mode, the contents of documentpages belonging to the book of interest are reduced and displayed. Thedisplay of the preview portion does not reflect any layout. The secondmethod is a printing view mode. In the printing view mode, the previewportion 902 displays document pages in a format which reflects thelayout of them. The third method is a simple printing view mode. In thesimple printing view mode, the contents of document pages are notreflected in the display of the preview portion, but only the layout isreflected. Switching between these display modes can be designated froma pull-down menu displayed by clicking “view” on the menu bar of thebookbinding application.

<Another Example of Configuration of Document Processing System>

The document processing system according to the first embodiment is of astand-alone type. A server-client system as an extension of thestand-alone system also creates and edits a book file by almost the sameconfiguration and sequence. A book file and printing process are managedby the server.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a server-clientdocument processing system.

The client document processing system is constituted by adding to thestand-alone system a DOMS (Document Output Management Service) driver109 serving as a client module, a DOMS print service module 110, and aDS (Document Service) client module 108. A client document processingsystem 1200 is connected to a document management server 1201, printcentral control server 1202, and print server 1203. These servers aregenerally connected to the client document processing system via anetwork. When the servers also function as clients, they are connectedby interprocess communication which simulates communication betweennetworks. The document management server 1201 and print central controlserver 1202 are connected to the client in FIG. 13, but only either onemay exist on the network. If the connected server is the documentmanagement server, a document management server-client system 1201SCincluding a client module is added to the stand-alone documentmanagement system. If the connected server is the print central controlserver 1202, a printing management server-client system 1202SC includinga client module is added.

The document management server 1201 stores a book file created andedited by the bookbinding application 104. To manage a book file by thedocument management server 1201, the book file is saved in a database1211 of the document management server 1201 instead of or in addition tothe local HD of a client PC. Save and read of a book file between thebookbinding application 104 and the document management server 1201 aredone via the DS client 108 and a DS core 1212.

The print central control server 1202 manages printing of a book filestored in the client document management system 1200 or documentmanagement server 1201. A print request from the client is transmittedto a DOMS WG server module 1221 of the print central control server 1202via the DOMS driver 109 and DOMS print service module 110. To print bythe printer of the client, the print central control server 1202transfers electronic document data to the electronic document de-spooler105 via the DOMS print service module 110 of the client. To print by theprint server 1203, the print central control server 1202 transmitselectronic document data to a DOMS print service module 1231 of theprint server 1203. For example, the print central control serverexecutes security check on the qualification of a user who has issued aprint request for a saved book file, or saves the printing process log.In this fashion, the document processing system can be implemented asboth a stand-alone system and client-server system.

<Image Page Editing Process>

As described above, the bookbinding application 104 in FIG. 1 providesthe user with a function of reading and editing the electronic documentfile or book file 103. Pages imported into the book file 103 are formedfrom image pages directly converted from an image file into a documentfile, and non-image pages output from an application via the electronicdocument writer 102. As described above, each page can be moved from agiven chapter to another chapter by editing, and even one chaptercontains both image pages and non-image pages.

A general image editing application is activated by dragging anddropping an image data file to the application program or its icon, andthe image data is opened and displayed. This function is based on thepremise that a dragged/dropped file is an image file recognizable by theapplication. That is, when a file irrelevant to the image application isdragged and dropped, an error occurs, or the file is ignored and onlythe application is activated.

In the first embodiment, bookbinding data is managed by the OS, butpages which form the bookbinding data are managed by the bookbindingapplication 104. By utilizing this point, the bookbinding program 104according to the first embodiment is characterized by, when a pluralityof pages are selected and image editing is designated, subjecting toimage editing only image pages prepared by excluding non-image pagesfrom the selected pages.

The printing control system of the present invention considers a processof importing image data scanned by a scanner into the bookbindingapplication 104, managing the image data as an electronic document filealso containing another application data, and making ready for printing.The printing control system tries to erase a post-process mark such as astaple mark or punch hole on an original paper document duringmake-ready. Hence, the purpose of the present invention is to permitimage editing for properly only image pages when the user arbitrarilyselects a plurality of pages of a chapter or the like from an electronicdocument containing both non-image pages and image pages, and performsimage editing.

Whether each page is an image page can be determined by checking a pagedata list in the structure shown in FIG. 3. When a plurality of pagesare designated, the page data link of each page information 409 withinthe selected range is traced to search the page data list. Thisdetermination can be further facilitated when the page controlinformation 410 of the page information 409 contains informationrepresenting whether a page is an image page or non-image page.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing the software configuration of thedocument processing system in image editing. An image editingapplication 108 in FIG. 14 is one function program contained in thebookbinding application 104, but is illustrated separately from thebookbinding application 104 for convenience.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the flow of a series of operations inimage editing. The contents of the process will be explained withreference to FIG. 15. An editing process for one image page will bedescribed.

This process starts when the user selects a desired image page at thetree view, displays the pull-down menu of “edit” on the menu bar, anddesignates image editing while the bookbinding application 104 runs.

The bookbinding application 104 extracts a designated image page fromthe electronic document file 103 (step S1501), designates the extractedimage as an editing target, and activates the image editing application108 (step S1502). The image editing application 108 edits the imagedesignated in activation (step S1503). After the end of image editing,the bookbinding application 104 stores the edited page image in theelectronic document file 103, and ends image editing.

Editing of one image page has been described, and a plurality of imagepages can also be edited at once. This process will be explained withreference to the flowchart of FIG. 16.

FIG. 16 shows a process when image editing is designated while the userarbitrarily selects a desired chapter or a plurality of pages at thetree view in the bookbinding application 104. In addition to tree viewoperation, when a plurality of pages are selected, selection can targetpages in a rectangular region specified by designating with a pointingdevice an upper left corner and then a lower right corner in the previewregion 902 where pages are reduced and displayed in the window of FIG.9. Also, a selected page may be added by clicking each page whilepressing the CTRL key of the keyboard. “Select all pages” may also beprepared in the menu bar. In this case, all pages can be selected by oneoperation.

The bookbinding application 104 gives attention to one page in aselected page group, confirms the page information (step S1601), anddetermines whether the page is an image page editable by the imageediting application 108 (step S1602). This confirmation includesdetermination of whether the page is an electronic document-importedpage or image-imported page, and determination of the image format.Whether the page is an electronic document-imported page orimage-imported page can be determined by the following two methods.First, an identifier which explicitly indicates that an image has beenimported is held in the page information 409 in importing an image, andthe identifier is confirmed in determination. The second method isexecuted when a page cannot be confirmed as an image by the identifierin the first method. According to the second method, it is confirmed byreferring to an electronic document file whether an image drawinginstruction having the same size as the page size is contained in thepage data list 413. In the second method, an image drawing instructionhaving the same size as the page size need not always be contained inthe page data list 413. The second method can be implemented bydetermining whether an image drawing instruction (instructionrepresenting that an image is pasted) equal to or more than apredetermined ratio (e.g., 90%) of the size is contained.

The bookbinding application 104 temporarily stores the page determinedto be an editable image page, as uniquely specifiable page information409 (step S1603).

Processes in steps S1601 to S1603 are repeated until the bookbindingapplication 104 determines in step S1604 that all selected pages havebeen processed.

As a result, editable image page information 409 is stored. In stepS1605, the bookbinding application 104 determines whether one or morepieces of editable image page information 409 exist. If no editableimage page information 409 exists, no image page exists in the selectedrange, and the process ends.

If the bookbinding application 104 determines that one or more imagepages to be edited exist, the bookbinding application 104 activates theimage editing application 108 (step S1606). At this time, thebookbinding application 104 notifies the image editing application 108of the temporarily stored page information. The image editingapplication 108 performs image editing for the notified page (stepS1607).

In image editing, the bookbinding application 104 can extract all pageimages from an electronic document file in advance, and transfer them tothe image editing application 108. Alternatively, when the image editingapplication 108 requires a page image, the bookbinding application 104can extract the page image from an electronic document file on the basisof notified page information, and transfer the page image to the imageediting application 108.

After the end of image editing, the bookbinding application 104 storesthe page image again in the electronic document data (step S1608), andimage editing as a series of processes ends.

The above image editing will be explained more easily with reference toFIGS. 17 and 18.

FIG. 17 shows an example of page selection with the UI of thebookbinding application 104. In FIG. 17, the fifth page (903), eighthpage (904), and 10th page (905) are selected. The first to ninth pagesare pages created by image import, and the 10th and subsequent pages arepages created by electronic document import. Of the selected fifth,eighth, and 10th pages, the fifth and eighth pages are image pages, andthe 10th page is a non-image page. When image editing is designated inthis state, the image editing application 108 is notified of only pageinformation of the fifth and eighth pages. FIG. 18 shows an example ofUI display in the image editing application 108 in this case.

As shown in FIG. 18, the image editing application 108 is made up of aregion 1803 where a list of pages to be edited is displayed, and aregion 1804 where the contents of a page during editing are displayed.Upon activation, the UI is displayed for the start page as an editingtarget among pages to be edited. The frame of the fifth page is madebold to represent that the fifth page is an editing target. A page to beedited is switched by clicking a desired page in the region 1803. Theframe of a page to be edited becomes bold, and the contents of the pageare displayed in the editing region 1804.

Image editing includes range designation, erase, paint, line drawing,insertion of a character image, trimming, rotation, and removal of anisolated black dot. These editing processes are well-known, and adescription thereof will be omitted. For a page input by image import,when the image is scanned by a scanner or the like, it may be skewed andscanned owing to document conveyance, or a black point may appear owingto dust. In this case, the same problem may arise in a plurality ofpages, and whether to perform skew correction or black point removal fora currently selected page or all pages input as image editing targets atonce can be selected. Whether a document has been skewed and scanned isdetermined by detecting the edge of a document and calculating theinclination of a straight line represented by the document edge. Whenthe inclination shifts by a predetermined angle or more, a rotationprocess is executed to make the edge line coincide with the nearesthorizontal or vertical line. A black point is removed by, when thenumber of black pixels is equal to or smaller than a predeterminednumber, black pixels are concentrated in a predetermined area, and noother black pixel exists in a predetermined range, determining a blackpixel as noise and replacing it with a white pixel.

In the above example, a page is selected in the preview region 902.When, e.g., “chapter” is selected at the tree portion 901, as shown inFIG. 19, all pages contained in the chapter can also be determined asprovisionally selected pages. If a book is selected (a heading 907 ofthe book is selected), as shown in FIG. 20, all pages contained in thebook can also be selected. Pages can also be selected by a combinationof these methods.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, an image fileinterpretable by the bookbinding application 104 is directly imported,and for an uninterpretable application data file, a result of convertingthe application data file into an electronic document file by theelectronic document writer 102 is imported. A bookbinding data filecontaining image pages and non-image pages can be created regardless ofthe type and manufacturer of an application program which creates pages,and image editing can be executed for only image pages without anyconsciousness.

Second Embodiment

In the above embodiment (first embodiment), whether image editing ispossible is checked only after the user selects a plurality of pages anddesignates image editing while selecting the pages. In the secondembodiment, whether image editing is possible is checked when a bookfile is opened. A description of the same part as that of the firstembodiment will be omitted.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing a sequence of opening a book file by abookbinding application 104 according to the second embodiment.

The bookbinding application 104 determines whether a book file to beopened is a file to be newly created or an existing file (step S2101).If a file is to be newly created, a book file containing no chapter isnewly created (step S2102). A UI (User Interface) window for editing thenew book file is displayed (step S2108).

If the book file is an existing book file, the bookbinding application104 opens the designated book file (step S2103), sequentially confirmspieces of page information of all pages (step S2104), and determines foreach page whether the page can undergo image editing by an image editingapplication 108 (step S2105). This determination includes confirmationof whether the page is an electronic document-imported page orimage-imported page, and confirmation of the image format. Whether thepage is an electronic document-imported page or image-imported page canalso be determined by referring to an electronic document file andconfirming whether a page data list 413 contains an image drawinginstruction having the same size as the page size. Alternatively, anidentifier which explicitly indicates that an image has been imported isheld in page information 409 in importing an image, and the identifieris confirmed in determination.

For the page determined to be an editable image page, the bookbindingapplication 104 temporarily stores the page information 409 which canuniquely specify the page (step S2106).

The above process is repeated until all pages are determined in stepS2107 to have been processed.

If the bookbinding application 104 determines that all pages have beendetermined, the process advances to step S2109 to refer to thetemporarily stored page information, add an image-editable mark to thepage, and display a UI (User Interface) window (FIG. 22) (step S2109).An image-uneditable page is displayed in a general way.

In FIG. 22, a page with a page number circled with a ∘ mark 908 is animage-editable page. Note that FIG. 22 illustrates merely an example,and any form can be adopted as far as image editing“possible/impossible” can be discriminated. For example, whether imageediting is possible or impossible can be discriminated by the color ofthe frame of each page.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing the flow of a series of operations inimage editing when the image editing application 108 can simultaneouslyedit a plurality of images. When the user designates image editing whileselecting a plurality of pages, the bookbinding application 104 omitsthe sequence (described in the first embodiment) of sequentiallyconfirming pieces of page information for the selected pages anddetermining whether each page can undergo image editing by the imageediting application 108. The bookbinding application 104 confirmswhether a page to be edited exists for only pages to be edited whosepage information is stored (step S2301), and activates the image editingapplication (step S2303).

According to the above sequence, the user can be explicitly presented inadvance with image-editable pages in an electronic document filecontaining both image data pages and electronic data pages. The user canmore conveniently select a page, a chapter, a book, or a combination ofthem without any consciousness of the type of document.

In the flowcharts described in the first and second embodiments,preceding and succeeding steps can be exchanged unless the processbecomes uncompleted.

As has been described above, according to the present invention,bookbinding data containing pages created by respective applications canbe constructed regardless of the type of application. When one or moredesired pages contained in bookbinding data are selected, image editingis designated, but a non-image page exists in the selected pages, thenon-image page can be excluded from editing targets, and the process canshift to image editing. As a result, the user can be provided with agood operation environment.

Most features of the embodiments are implemented by a computer program,as shown in FIG. 1, and the program falls within the spirit and scope ofthe present invention. In general, the computer program can be executedby setting in a computer a computer-readable storage medium such as aCD-ROM which stores the computer program, and copying or installing thecomputer program in the system. Such computer-readable storage mediumalso falls within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

As many apparently widely different embodiments of the present inventioncan be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, it isto be understood that the invention is not limited to the specificembodiments thereof except as defined in the claims.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No.2004-121870 filed on Apr. 16, 2004, which is hereby incorporated byreference herein.

1. A document processing apparatus which edits an electronic documentfile containing both an image page and a non-image page, comprising: anediting unit adapted to edit an image page included in an electronicdocument file; an identifying unit adapted to identify a plurality ofimage pages from the electronic document file as editing targets of saidediting unit; a display unit adapted to display the plurality of imagepages, whereby the image pages are distinguished from the non-imagepages in accordance with the identifying resulting by said identifyingunit, and an applying unit adapted to apply the edit made to the imagepage included in the electronic document file to the plurality of imagepages identified by said identifying unit and displayed by said displayunit, and not the non-image pages, when editing processing is performedby said editing unit.
 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein theelectronic document file has a hierarchical structure formed from a bookrepresenting a property of an entire electronic document file, at leastone chapter contained in the book, and at least a page contained in eachchapter, and wherein said display unit displays the image pagescontained in a first chapter and does not display image pages containedin a second chapter when the first chapter is selected.
 3. The apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein said editing unit can switch betweenwhether to execute editing for a group of pages selected from imagepages, and whether to execute editing for all the image pages at once.4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said editing unitexecutes skew correction and black point removal of the image page.
 5. Amethod of controlling a document processing apparatus which edits anelectronic document file containing both an image page and a non-imagepage, comprising: an editing step of editing an image page included inan electronic document file; an identifying step of identifying aplurality of image pages from the electronic document file as editingtargets in said editing step; a display step of displaying the pluralityof image pages, whereby the image pages are distinguished from non-imagepages in accordance with the identifying resulting in said identifyingstep; and an applying step of applying the editing of the image pageincluded in the electronic document file to the plurality of image pagesidentified in said identifying step and displayed in said display step,and not the non-image pages, when editing is performed in said editingstep.
 6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the electronicdocument file has a hierarchical structure formed from a bookrepresenting a property of an entire electronic document file, at leastone chapter contained in the book, and at least a page contained in eachchapter, and wherein said display step displays the image pagescontained in a first chapter and does not display image pages containedin a second chapter when the first chapter is selected.
 7. The methodaccording to claim 5, wherein, in the editing step, whether to executeediting for a group of pages selected from image pages, and whether toexecute editing for all the image pages at once can be switched.
 8. Themethod according to claim 5, wherein said editing step executes skewcorrection and black point removal of the image page.
 9. A computerprogram stored on a computer readable storage medium, the computerprogram functioning as a document processing apparatus which edits anelectronic document file containing both an image page and a non-imagepage, wherein the computer program functions as: an editing step ofediting an image page included in an electronic document file; anidentifying step of identifying a plurality of image pages from theelectronic document file as editing targets in said editing step; adisplay step of displaying the plurality of image pages, whereby theimage pages are distinguished from non-image pages in accordance withthe identifying resulting in said identifying step; and an applying stepof applying the editing of the image page included in the electronicdocument file to the plurality of image pages identified in saididentifying step and displayed in said display step, and not thenon-image pages, when editing is performed in said editing step.
 10. Theprogram according to claim 9, wherein the electronic document file has ahierarchical structure formed from a book representing a property of anentire electronic document file, at least one chapter contained in thebook, and at least a page contained in each chapter, and wherein saiddisplay step displays the image pages contained in a first chapter anddoes not display image pages contained in a second chapter when thefirst chapter is selected.
 11. The program according to claim 9,wherein, in the editing step, whether to execute editing for a group ofpages selected from image pages, and whether to execute editing for allthe image pages at once can be switched.
 12. The program according toclaim 9, wherein said editing step executes skew correction and blackpoint removal of the image page.